Subdivision 1. Establishment; purpose. A district or
a group of districts may establish a school readiness program
for children age three to kindergarten entrance. The purpose of
a school readiness program is to prepare children to enter
kindergarten.

Subd. 3. Program requirements. A school readiness
program provider must:

(1) assess each child's cognitive skills when the child
enters and again before the child leaves the program to inform
program planning and promote kindergarten readiness;

(2) provide comprehensive program content based on early
childhood research and professional practice that is focused on
children's cognitive skills and development and prepares
children for the transition to kindergarten;

Subd. 3a. Application and reporting requirements.
(a) A school readiness program provider must submit a biennial
plan for approval by the commissioner before receiving aid under
section 124D.16. The plan must describe how the program meets
the program requirements under subdivision 3. A school district
by April 1 must submit the plan for approval by the commissioner
in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. One-half
the districts must first submit the plan by April 1, 2006, and
one-half the districts must first submit the plan by April 1,
2007, as determined by the commissioner.

(b) Programs receiving school readiness funds annually must
submit a report to the department.

Subd. 5. Services with new or existing providers. A
district may contract with a charter school or community-based
organization to provide eligible children developmentally
appropriate services that meet the program requirements in
subdivision 3. In the alternative, a district may pay tuition
or fees to place an eligible child in an existing program. A
district may establish a new program where no existing,
reasonably accessible program meets the program requirements in
subdivision 3. Districts must submit a copy of each contract to
the commissioner with the biennial plan. Services may be
provided in a site-based program or in the home of the child or
a combination of both. The district may not restrict
participation to district residents.